Event organizers are anticipating participation from more than 70 employers and 30 college programs, and attendance of nearly 2,000 job seekers. The purpose of the job fair is to provide access to college programs and employment opportunities from local businesses for both students and the general public.

Through Hawaiʻi Energy’s sponsorship, this year’s event will focus on “Clean Energy Connections,” which are clean energy career and training opportunities for attendees and participants. Hawaiʻi Energy is the conservation and efficiency program for Hawaiʻi, Honolulu and Maui counties.

The clean energy sector in Hawaiʻi, which conservation and efficiency are a major component of, is a major growth area. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ Hawaiʻi Green Jobs Initiative identifies 11,145 current positions related to the clean energy sector and projects a 26 percent increase in 2012. With these figures, Hawaiʻi ranks third in the nation in clean energy job growth.

“Conservation and efficiency are no longer just buzzwords reserved for environmentalists, they are now a growing part of business vernacular,” stated Hawaiʻi Energy Transformational Outreach Specialist Malama Minn. “The individuals and businesses that will play a critical role in shaping our future are those that understand conservation and efficiency.”

The job fair will provide a venue for employers and career programs to distribute information while also giving attendees the opportunity to explore and ask questions in a welcoming environment.

“As we celebrate our 10th year, we are keeping an eye on the future, and that future is clean energy,” said Leeward Community College Job Prep Coordinator Sandy Hoshino. “We envision a day when a majority of the jobs in Hawaiʻi, no matter the task, will be influenced by the conscious use and conservation of energy in some form or fashion. That’s why, for the first time ever, we are partnering with Hawaiʻi Energy to help employers and employees make that clean energy connection.”